The tentatively titled UK thriller The
Bothy has been boarded by Mel Gibson
and Bruce Davey's Icon Entertainment. Budget
is between USD10m - USD15m.

The Bothy tells the story of
an American serial killer on the loose in the
Scottish Highlands during the worst storm in
living memory. Scottish production company Gabriel
Films is developing the project with writer
James MacInnes. Ros Borland and Catherine Aitken
are producing for Gabriel.

Bruce Davey is producing for Icon, which is
expected to handle worldwide sales and distribute
in the UK and Australia. The partners are currently
attaching a director with a view to shooting
early next year.

The Bothy marks the second significant
UK production Icon has boarded since August,
when the company took UK and Australian rights
on Assumption Of The Virgin. Sydney
Pollack, who is producing through Mirage Enterprises,
is considering directing the project after Walter
Salles dropped out, citing creative differences.

Icon had a hit last year with UK comedy Kevin
And Perry Go Large and is enjoying box-office
success in Australia with another of its local
productions, The Man Who Sued God.
The UK distribution arm this week opened Ghost
World in the UK opposite Harry
Potter And The Philosopher's Stone for
a robust screen average of £3,300 on 40 sites.

Gabriel Films is in development on futuristic
thriller Alt. Earth and psychological
thriller Blood Relative, which
has backing from Scottish Screen, the Film Council
and Wave Pictures. Also in the works is Passing
Places, a comedy road movie set up with
BBC Scotland.